Family Activities for Thanksgiving Day

Posted by Natasha on October 2nd, 2019

Thanksgiving is a beautiful family holiday with many opportunities for fun family activities. If you’re not sure what to do on Thanksgiving other than eat a big meal, these ideas can help!

With the lure of a Black Friday deals, football games, and parades, it can be easy to lose sight of actually giving thanks on Thanksgiving. Practicing gratitude is incredibly beneficial. It makes you happier and healthier! If you’re new to practicing gratitude, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start and get your family involved.

There are several ways to bring gratitude into your Thanksgiving day. For example, you can go around the table and have everyone name something they are grateful for. 

If you’re feeling crafty, you can make a Thanksgiving tree. Get a topiary tree at the craft store or put branches in floral foam in a flower pot. Make card stock ornaments for the tree and have your Thanksgiving guests write things they’re grateful for on the ornaments. You can also use faux fall leaves as ornaments, but make sure to provide permanent markers for writing on the leaves.

Another way you can express gratitude is by volunteering. Many food pantries need extra volunteers during the holiday season. Spending a few hours volunteering with your family can help everyone be more grateful for life’s blessings. 

Thanksgiving can also be a good time to play games and connect as a family. You don’t need to spend lots of money on an elaborate game - just grab something simple like this free printable Thanksgiving word search. You can encourage family members to work together to solve the puzzle or have everyone try to complete their own copy as quickly as possible as a race. If you want to make the game competitive, offer the first person to finish the puzzle correctly a ‘get out of dishes free’ ticket!

Running a Turkey Trot with your family is another way to celebrate together. Many communities have a fun run/walk 5k on Thanksgiving morning with a shorter distance for children. Doing a 5k is also a great way to bring up making healthy choices on a day typically associated with excess. You can introduce your children to making simple swaps, like how to use honey instead of sugar in baked goods, that can make meals a bit healthier.

Many people start looking forward to Christmas as soon as the Thanksgiving feast is finished. If you’ve never decorated for Christmas on Thanksgiving, give it a try this year!

Too many families lack family photos. When everyone is together for Thanksgiving, hop in front of a camera and get a picture! You don’t need a fancy camera or a professional photographer to take a few quick pictures. You can even set up a timer on your phone to make sure everyone is in the photo!

Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity for family bonding time. Enjoy something more than just a meal with your family this Thanksgiving Day!